Nidhi fumbled into her churidar kurta as dr ashutosh explained the situation to baba n the two rushed out ...leaving the kids asleep..armaan baba n kaka taking full responsibility. .As dr ashutosh drove , he told nidhi to dial dr sunil of city central"hi sunil..main ashutosh..yaar ..its an emergency ..my grand mom in law seems to have had some kind of a kidney issue..what do u suggest..who is the best nephro..mere yahaan to dr kapur hain.."dr sunil halted for a moment and answered..."ashutosh..we have this dr james..he is v good indeed..i can send him across to kgh..or if u want to admit her here..no issues"! Ashutosh looked at nidhi..distraught but trying to be in control..he held her hand and gave it a lil squeeze "nahi sunil..i will keep her at kgh..but if you could send dr james..i d be very grateful.."!
As the car screeched to a halt at col verma's ..the ambulance was already there..dr ashutosh helped shift an unconscious dadi bua while nidhi put her things together with maxi...and just as she was about to leave the room..her gaze fell on the tiny idol of hanumanji that nidhi had always seen by dadi bua's bed side...she quietly put it with her stuff and emerged..ashutosh pointed"you go in the ambulance..i d drop maxi home n get col verma to kgh..dont worry..we d give her the very very best..."nidhi nodded as she stepped into the ambulance while dr ashutosh and cv followed in the car...as the solankis stood in shock n disbelief.
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"Dr james thos is her case history. ..a chronic case of hypertension. ."james nodded as he examined the patient ..and then said"sir if you could tell the dr on duty to take blood samples n send for tests immediately"ashutosh nodded as he rang ...n dr ahana came in...
For a second; both froze...but then james spoke"ahana"nidhi observed he did not adress her as the impersonal "dr ahana"and as she did as per his instructions...ashutosh n nidhi stood...
Dr james looked up"the tests will give us the confirmation. ..but i am quite sure its a renal failure...we will have to put her on dialysis ...n then start looking for a donor..her kids"??? Ashutosh shook his head...in the negative..as his gaze fell on a dejected col verma sitting outside..while nidhi tried to brave the situation inside...dr ashutosh knew ...there could be only one donor...nidhi...she was the closest relative ...of the right age group...but only if her blood group her tissue type matched...but then would it be prudent for nidhi...she had a whole life ahead of her...
Dr ashutosh brought nidhi out as they sat by cv n explained that dialysis had been started.the head nurse came with the forms that nidhi filled and ashutosh said "just put c/odr ashutosh...everything would be taken care of"! Nidhi nodded even as col verma tried a meek protest...
As ahana got coffee for all of them , ashutosh smiled n introduced "dr ahana "..dr james ki patni...aur mere friends sudhir nanda ki beti..."ahana smiled n said"aur nidhi ki dost"!...col verma smiled...as all eyes settled on the icu...where dialysis was on...
It was in the wee hours of the morning that dr james emerged "she wants to meet "yog"! Cv got up n entered...as nidhi stood looking at the two thru the glass window..while a concerned dr shutosh stood behind her as usual...rock solid in support...
"Nidhi..i feel tum ghar ho aao...infact i d also come along..send nishu to school...n then return with breakfast for col verma"nidhi nodded...as always ...ashutosh was right..like always..a guiding light of logic in the darkest moments of life...
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"Baba ..now the reports will divulge the serum cretenin levels...then we d have to decide..the next step..lets see how long can she survive on dialysis...n more importantly can she take the surgery ...at this age organ acceptance is not very easy..."the rest was lost as guddi ran into ashu's arms with her teddy ...while nishu came with a comb "mamma..plz kar do na...aur tie "nidhi smiled as she looked at ashutosh...even in these bleak moments..there were sparks of light...which illuminated the darkness...
Nidhi readied nishu as guddi was unable to understand the sombre mood and playfully asked"pappa..breakfast...come..achcha achcha yummy "!! And as aahutosh smiled...nidhi stood up..n helped put poha n sandwiches on the table...as the family ate ...baba observed nidhi unduly withdrawn n quiet...he spoke "nidhi..beta...itni chinta na ker...medical science mei faith rakh...kuch na kuch zuroor hoga..."nidhi nodded...as ashutosh's cell buzzed.."ok...i see ...thanx james...do what u feel is right...we are coming right away"he looked at nidhi.."the reports are pretty bad...dialysis cant go on for more than a week...we need a donor...come chalo...time for decisions..."!
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"No col sahab...u cannot donate..you are 58 n ahave had two heart attacks..out of question..."col verma kept quiet n then spoke"tab to phir ...nidhi..."and dr ashutosh nodded in silence...as both the men looked at nidhi...all of 32 years and probably faced with the toughest decision of her life...col verma spoke up"what do u feel dr ashutosh..."nidhi spoke before him..."baba ..dadi bua ko bachane ko kuch bhi karoongi main...anything...i d give my kidney..."dr ashutosh nodded...but added a word of caution 'nidhi..its not only what we want..but also what is feasible...secondly..your medical history also needs to be considered..."
Nidhi had a lot to say..but kept quiet...she knew what dr ashutosh was saying was correct...medically...
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"Have a sip...i dont think you have eaten..."it was james offering his cup of tea to ahaana looking tired...as she slumped..sipping the tea...she spoke"sach kitna mushkil hai kisi apne ko marte dekhna..."james looked into her eyes ...n replied"yes...but still we chhoose death over life...isnt that strange..."ahaana kept quiet...n came out...as james took a deep breath..
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"So this is the entire scenario...sir...the patient needs a transfusion n a transplant..but she doesnt seem to be on the best of health to do so...however...i feel we should start with the donor search...because there are medico legal issues involved..."dr ashutosh cut him short.."no james..we have nidhi. ..she can donate...off course we need to make her have a medical clearance...i have called her gynaec...sudhir..."dr james bit his lip n said"sir this is a v personal decision...now i d beg to leave to be with the patient...she needs another dialysis..."dr ashutosh nodded..
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"Ashutosh...i understand that dadi bua's life is important but so is nidhu's...she has had a bad gynaec history..its not fair to her...n most importantly..she is so young...what if she develops some complications..."?? Ashutosh sat running his fingers thru his beard...as dr sudhir finally got up"my final opinion...technically YES...personally NO"!! And he walked off...stopping for a second as dr james almost bumped into him ...and then wished"morning sir...how are you"?? Sudhir kept in control ...n replied "i hope u are more in control of things..."!!..and dr james kept quiet...as his father inlaw walked away...
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"Nidhi...meri bachchi...meri baat sun tu"!! It was dadi bua...now fully conscious...trying to explain that she did not want a surgery n certainly not nidhi's kidney..."beta...meri bachchi...teri zindagi hai aage ko...mera kya hai...aur phir daktar ki badhti umr...do do bachche...main teri zindagi khatre me nahi daal sakti..."!nidhi seemed to think it wise not to argue with her...n she patted her hand n said"ab chalti hoon dadi bua...bachche intezaar kar rahe honge...shyama aunty aur anji hain baahar...baba ko bhi ghar bheja hai...aaj raat"and saying so...she emerged ..and walked to shyama aunty...who as usual gave her sage advice"beta jo bhi decide karna..dr ashutosh ki sehmati se karna..."nidhi nodded and left to the waiting ashutosh...
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"Mamma...i have a hockey match on sunday...tum sikhaaogi na muhe..tumhari photo hai hockey khelte hue...nanaji ke yahaan"?? Nidhi smiled...but did not answer..as a sleepy guddi yawned n cried"mamma...chalo ninni"and as nidhi carried her to bed...hugging both her kids tight before she switched off the light...yes she had taken a decision...to endanger her life...but was it correct"???
She suddenly felt dr ashutosh's arms on her shoulders...and she looked at him..."kya karoon...aap kya kehte hain...are you against this after all ...i belong to you"!! Ashutosh held her by the shoulder n said"hey jaan...you do not belong to me..you belong to yourself...yes i love you ...so mera farz tumhare mushkil faislon mei madad karna hai...tumhara haath pakadna hai...jab bhi kathin mode pe tumhare kadam dagmagaayein...aur ab jab faisla liya hai..to yeh hum dono ka faisla hai...i agree with you..dadi bua ne tumhe tumhari maa se badhke pyaar kiya hai...aur hume hur mumkin koshish karni chahiye unhe bachaane ki..."nidhi put her head on ashutosh's broad chest...thanking him silently..."kitne din rehna hoga mujhe hospital mei"?? Ashutosh replied"8 days...kal morning se..first tests...then surgery...n then you d be on special drugs for a couple of days...if all goes well...10 days me aa jaaogi humaare paas waapas..."!! Nidhi whispered"dr aahutosh...kahi kuch ho gaya muhe to...nishu guddi ko...sambhaal lenge na...aakhir mere bachchon ke paas dadi bua thodi hongi"!! Ashutosh kept quiet...n just held nidhi close...his own heart fluttering in apprehension...n yet he was not stopping nidhi...he wantwd her to live her duties..to fulfil them...n not be his slave...he recalled what he had said long ago"meri chahat tumhare kadmo ki zanjeer kabhi nahi banegi..."and then he held her face in his hands n kissed her...and nidhi who knew him so well...could see the fear flicker in his eyes...
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It was 3 in the night that dr james came to see his patient.dr ahana was sitting by her..observing keenly.."night duty"?? Ahaana nodded"yes...its nice to spend the nights here...rather than alone at home..."james kept quiet...he silently closed the door ...and drove home to catch up sleep before the two tough surgeries began...
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Dadi bua opened her eyes n her gaze fell on her tiny bajrang bali...she knew her nidhi must have got him...
She closed her eyes n prayed"hey bajrang bali...tumne meri humesha suni hai..."
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It was at 5 am that nidhi touched her sleeping kids ...n then came out...col verma stood with tears ..."nidhi...mai phir kehta hoon stop this...it can be dangerous..."! But baba patted nidhi"ja beta...hum hain tere saath...
Be brave...aur jaldi waapas aana...tere bachchon ko..iss ghar ko...ashu ko intezaar rahega tera..."!! And nidhi quietly walked...behind her husband...whom she knew would stand by her even thru these very difficult times...
Could her sacrifice save dadi bua?? Would it be fair if she died...leaving her young kids?? What about ashutosh..how d he cope up without her...dr ashutosh clutched her fingers...and smiled..."main hoon na.."...just then his cell rang...n his face lost its colour..."kya hua...bataiye na...plz"?? Ashutosh stopped the car...
"Nidhi...dadi bua saved you of the decision...she just died...renal artey haemorrhage. .."! And nidhi broke down...the flood gates to tears opened ...
